Sidewalk edger and trimmer



Sept. 18, 1951 c. E. SMITH SIDEWALK EDGER AND TRIMMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1950 Clarence E. Smith INVENTOR.

Sept. .18, 1951 E, SW 2,568,468

7 SIDEWALK EDGER AND TRIMMER Filed May 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Clarence E. Smith INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITE-D PATENT 2,568,465

SIDEWALK EDGERAND TRIMMER Clarence; E. smithmnustong res. AppllcationMay' 1, 1950; SerialNc; 159.com-

(once-25c) This invention relates generally to mama "more particularly toasidewalk edger and trimmer adapted to be guided by h-and andoperated by foot, in trimming along the edges of side walks and the like.

The primary object oi this inventionis to provide a tool which will facilitate edging grass and heavyturi around walks, curbs, flower beds and like structures, the device being operable without undue flexing of the arms and back muscles sonthat the work is lcssiiring tc'the operator, and the operator is alsopcrmittedto stand upright. while using, the tool.

Another object of this invention'is to provide an edger and trimmer which will make a clean cut and a desirable channel at the edge ofthe sidewalk or curbing, the cutting and channeling being completely regular while being quickly accomplished with minimum effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool which, in the operation thereof, the operator presses a pedal downwardly into engagement with the sidewalk or curbing or the like and may momentarily shift his weight onto the operating foot, so that the leg muscles of each leg are momentarily relaxed during the work and neither the leg used to operate the tool or the other leg of the operator becomes unduly tired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means in an edger and trimmer whereby the depth of the track and channel made by the tool is completely regular due to the use of a simple guide roller which is self cleaning.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character mentioned above which advances itself almost automatically during the normal use thereof.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a tool of this general character wherein a pair of blades having coacting teeth are arranged so that the blades and teeth have relatively eccentric movement wherein the teeth of one blade recede and advance substantially radially with respect to the teeth of the other blade thus giving a satisfactory self cleaning action and a novel and improved cutting action.

A last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a tool of the character mentioned above which is relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, which is simple, safe and convenient to use in many environments, and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides. in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement 01 elements andportions as will be hereinafter described in'detail in the specifioation, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and

'i'llustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material-part of this applicationand in which:

Figure l is a view in perspectiveofthe tool and a portion of thetools normalenzvironment, the figurebeing designed to "show how' the tool is used;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the tool with handle portions broken away and 1 the blade, hereinafter referred to. as the other blade; being shown in a second position;

Figure 3 is: a horizontal sectional view, taken on a line just above the blade in Figure 2 and showing the blade and parts carried thereby in plan;

Figure 4 is a substantially vertica1 transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 44 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the part hereinafter referred to as the one blade and a portion of the handle structure to which it is secured; and

Figure 6 is a view, in perspective, of the said other blade, removed from the remaining portion of the tool.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the difierent views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this tool includes a shank 0r handle Ill with a stirrup hand grip I 2 and a ferrule I4 at the upper and lower ends, respectively. The shank portion l8 integral with one substantially semi-circular blade IB is rigidly secured to the handle I0, and this blade 18 has sharpened teeth 20 on the curved edge thereof, the shank portion I6 extending from what may be considered the diametric center portion of the plate 18, it being noted that the plate [8 is actually a segment slightly smaller than a semi-circle in the preferred form illustrated in the drawing.

The other blade 22 may comprise a true semicircular element and is provided with similarly spaced teeth 24 on its curved edge, the two plates being of substantially the same radius and having apertures 26 and 28 through which a pivot pin 30 extends. A sleeve bearing 32 with a roller 34 thereon is mounted upon this same pivot pin 30. It should be very carefully noted that the aperture 2B and 28 and the pivot pin and roller are positioned in spaced relation with the point which has been referred to as being substantially the diametric center of the blade. The pivot pin may be described as being positioned below the said diametric centers of the blades.

A scraper 36 will be secured to the other blade 28 and positioned so that the scraper will frictionally engage the roller 34 to keep the same reasonably clean during operation of the tool.

The other blade 22 has a pair of similarly disposed horizontal flanges 38 on the upper edge of this plate, these flanges 38 and 40 being spaced as indicated at 42 to accommodate the shank portion [6 secured to the said one blade. 4 The pedal 44 is secured to an upper edge portion of said other blade 22 on the side thereof adjacent the roller 34, and a coiled spring 46 i terminally secured to an intermediate portion of the handle I0 and selectively secureable at the other end in spaced apertured 48 in a shank portion of The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof,

'taken'in connection with the above recited objects and the drawings. In recapitulation, the edge of said other blade 22 will move eccentrically with reference to the edge of said one blade I8 'when thepedal is pressed downwardly by foot and the tool guided by the handle structure l0, l2

and the engaging roller 34. The flanges 38, 4B limit the'rotative movement of said other blade I 22 relative to said one blade I8 and the spring 46 ing coasting teeth on the curved edges thereof,

a handle fixed to one blade, a pivot pin connecting the blades together and spaced from the diametric centers of the blades, flanges on the other blade limiting rotative movement of said other blade in both directions relative to said one blade. a pedal on said other blade, and a spring biasing said other blade to rotate in one direction;

- 2. A device according to claim 1 and including a sidewalk-contacting guide roller on said pivot pin i 3. A device according to claim 2 and including means to preserve the blades obliquely disposed with reference to each other.

I CLARENCE E.- SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,218,669 Jordan m' s Mar. 13, 1917 

